In Davao Sur town, charity gives poor hope

HAGONOY, Davao del Sur—All that Digos City resident Carlomagno Cordova needed was P18,000 to have a cataract operation.

But at 82 years old and without any source of income, Cordova could not afford the amount or ask his daughter, who had been supporting him since his retirement as a small business owner, to finance the operation.

Like many others sharing his predicament, Cordova was ready to give up. “I couldn’t imagine how we would be able to raise the money,” he said.

That was until he heard on a radio station about a free eye checkup and operation program in this town.

On Sept. 26, Cordova and his daughter went to the venue—the house of retired police director Conrado Laza in Barangay (village) Lapulabao.

There Cordova found a queue of dozens of people waiting to enter the house.

Raul Raut, close friend of the retired police officer, said the medical mission was spearheaded by the United Church of Christ of the Philippines’ (UCCP) Social Concerns Foundation.

Laza and his family had been giving help to those who could not afford medical services, benefiting mostly neighbors. Raut, of the province’s population office, said he thought bringing Laza and UCCP together would benefit more people. Eldie Aguirre, Inquirer Mindanao